A bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-108 · H.R. 4387 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Nov 9, 1979 · Economics and Public Finance
Sponsor: Rep. Jamie Whitten (D-MS-1)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 304 yea, 25 nay304–25
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
(Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendments)
=Title I: Agricultural Programs= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for specified offices, corporations, and agricultural programs of the Department of Agriculture, including: (1) special grants for guayule research authorized by the Native Latex Commercialization and Economic Development Act of 1978; (2) certain animal health and disease programs; and (3) the food and human nutrition education program under Public Law 95-113.
Prohibits use of any appropriation in this Act to reimburse the General Services Administration in excess of $750,000 for publications distributed by the Consumer Information Center.
Exempts from specified construction cost limitations: (1) a greenhouse/headhouse at Stillwater, Oklahoma; and (2) a feedmill at El Reno, Oklahoma.
Increases funding for: (1) the nutrition and family education program for low income areas; (2) urban gardening programs; (3) the farm safety program; and (4) the wholesale market development program. Denies such increased funding for the nonpoint source pollution program. Earmarks specified funds for agricultural education only. Reserves fire ant control funds for State matching purposes.
Provides funding for the beekeeper indemnity program.
Limits the amount of funds for loan guarantees by the Commodity Credit Corporation for the production and marketing of industrial hydrocarbons and alcohols from agricultural commodities and forest products.
=Title II: Rural Development Programs= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for specified rural development programs of the Department of Agriculture.
Extends the coverage of the appropriation for industrial development loans to insured as well as guaranteed loans.
Makes appropriations for the authorization of six new Resource Conservation and Development areas.
Appropriates funds for an experimental rural clean water program, to be targeted at areas with identified and significant agricultural nonpoint source water pollution problems. Prescribes alternative procedures for the recommendations and approval of practices under such program. Requires: (1) coordination of such program with (while prohibiting its absorption by) the regular Agricultural Conservation Program; (2) technical assistance from the Soil Conservation Service; and (3) administrative services supplied to such program by the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Requires transfer of necessary funds to the Soil Conservation Service for such technical assistance.
=Title III: Domestic Food Programs= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for the Food and Nutrition Service, the food stamp program, and other domestic food programs of the Department of Agriculture.
Requires submission of reimbursement claims for school lunch program meals served in 1980 not later than December 31, 1980.
Makes distribution of funds to an individual State for administrative expenses in the school meals programs contingent upon the State's cooperation in studies directed by Congress and requested by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Authorizes the Secretary: (1) to withhold funds from a State which fails to make timely corrections of serious deficiencies determined by the Secretary to exist in such State's administration of any program under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (except the special supplemental food program); and (2) to allocate such withheld funds upon correction of such deficiencies. Restricts availability of funds for such operations to: (1) public service institutions; (2) certain private nonprofit service institutions; (3) private nonprofit schools; and (4) private nonprofit migrant farmworker organizations.
Requires derivation from prior year balance of a portion of funds made available for the special supplemental food programs (WIC).
Stipulates availability of the appropriation for food donations programs until the end of fiscal year 1981.
Reserves food program administration funds for simplifying procedures, reducing overhead costs, tightening regulations, improving food stamp handling, or assistance in the prevention, identification and prosecution of fraud and other violations.
=Title IV: International Programs= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for Food for Peace and other specified international programs of the Department of Agriculture. Denies any reservation of a portion of the appropriation for the Office of International Cooperative and Development for international agricultural research and extension activity by the International Science and Education Council.
=Title V: Related Agencies= - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Farm Credit Administration.
=Title VI: General Provisions= - Specifies miscellaneous requirements regarding the use of funds appropriated by this Act.
Declares that Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Salaries and Expenses funds made available to county committees shall be on the list of items for which new obligational authority shall remain available until expended.
Permits the use of funds appropriated by this Act to pay rent for county office space located in inner city areas that are inaccessible to agency clientele without adequate parking space for farm vehicles.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 96th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 308 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
308 yea26 nay99 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(196)
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Robert GarciaD-NY-21
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Anthony BeilensonD-CA-23
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Mickey LelandD-TX-18
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. William GrayD-PA-2
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-12
- Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
- Rep. Bennett StewartD-IL-1
- Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
- Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
- Rep. James ShannonD-MA-5
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Cardiss CollinsD-IL-7
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-4
Rep. Daniel AkakaD-HI-2- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-3
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
- Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Barbara MikulskiD-MD-3- Rep. Edward StackD-FL-12
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
- Rep. Allan SwiftD-WA-2
- Rep. Michael LowryD-WA-7
- Rep. Michael BarnesD-MD-8
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Ozzie MyersD-PA-1
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-4- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
- Rep. Raymond LedererD-PA-3
- Rep. Peter PeyserD-NY-23
- Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. Geraldine FerraroD-NY-9
- Rep. Anthony CoelhoD-CA-15
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. William RatchfordD-CT-5
- Rep. Albert GoreD-TN-4
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. Mary OakarD-OH-20
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-7- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
- Rep. Donald BaileyD-PA-21
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Robert YoungD-MO-2
- Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Cecil HeftelD-HI-1
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
- Rep. Frank GuariniD-NJ-14
- Rep. Raymond KogovsekD-CO-3
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
- Rep. Nicholas MavroulesD-MA-6
- Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
- Rep. Peter KostmayerD-PA-8
- Rep. Michael SynarD-OK-2
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
- Rep. John CavanaughD-NE-2
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Adam BenjaminD-IN-1
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Donald AlbostaD-MI-10
- Rep. Douglas WalgrenD-PA-18
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. William BonerD-TN-5
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
- Rep. John WilliamsD-MT-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Brian DonnellyD-MA-11
- Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
- Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Allen ErtelD-PA-17
- Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. Tom DaschleD-SD-1
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Vonno GudgerD-NC-11
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
- Rep. Ronnie FlippoD-AL-5
- Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
- Rep. Daniel MicaD-FL-11
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. Bill NelsonD-FL-9- Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
- Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
- Rep. Harold VolkmerD-MO-9
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
- Rep. Joseph WyattD-TX-14
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Billy EvansD-GA-8
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Wes WatkinsD-OK-3
- Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
- Rep. Daniel GlickmanD-KS-4
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Andy IrelandD-FL-8
- Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
- Rep. Druie BarnardD-GA-10
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Kent HanceD-TX-19
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Eugene AtkinsonD-PA-25
- Rep. Beverly ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
- Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Richard ShelbyD-AL-7- Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
- Rep. Douglas ApplegateD-OH-18
- Rep. Sam HallD-TX-1
- Rep. Phil GrammD-TX-6
- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
- Rep. James LeathD-TX-11
- Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
- Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
- Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3
- Rep. Robert StumpD-AZ-3
Republicans who voted yea(112)
- Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
- Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-18
- Rep. Harold HollenbeckR-NJ-9
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Marc MarksR-PA-24
- Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
- Rep. Carl PursellR-MI-2
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
- Rep. Robert DavisR-MI-11
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. Olympia SnoweR-ME-2- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. William ClingerR-PA-23
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Thomas EvansR-DE
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. William RoyerR-CA-11
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
- Rep. Harold SawyerR-MI-5
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. David MarriottR-UT-2
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
- Rep. Arlen ErdahlR-MN-1
- Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
- Rep. Paul TribleR-VA-1
- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
- Rep. Thomas TaukeR-IA-2
- Rep. Earl ColemanR-MO-6
- Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Carroll CampbellR-SC-4
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Huey DeckardR-IN-8
- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Larry HopkinsR-KY-6
- Rep. Charles PashayanR-CA-17
- Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
- Rep. Thomas CorcoranR-IL-15
- Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6- Rep. Edwin BethuneR-AR-2
- Rep. Ronald MarleneeR-MT-2
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-37- Rep. Jon HinsonR-MS-4
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. Newton GingrichR-GA-6
- Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Robert DornanR-CA-27
- Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Arlan StangelandR-MN-7
- Rep. Toby RothR-WI-8
- Rep. Wayne GrishamR-CA-33
- Rep. William CarneyR-NY-1
- Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Richard CheneyR-WY
- Rep. Mickey EdwardsR-OK-5
- Rep. Thomas LoefflerR-TX-21
- Rep. David StockmanR-MI-4
- Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-29
- Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
- Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
- Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
- Rep. Robert WalkerR-PA-16
- Rep. Kenneth KramerR-CO-5
- Rep. Robert BadhamR-CA-40
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9- Rep. James JeffriesR-KS-2
- Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
- Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 546 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 25 actions.
- Nov 9, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-108.
- Oct 31, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendment to certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Oct 26, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments with an amendment.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House receded and concurred in certain Senate amendments.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #609 (304-25).House roll call 609
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #609 (304-25).House roll call 609
- Oct 24, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-553.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-553.
- Sep 11, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jul 19, 1979Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #191 (90-7).Senate roll call 191
- Jul 18, 1979FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jul 12, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jun 21, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee
- Jun 19, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #256 (391-30).House roll call 256
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on Appropriations rejected in House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
- Jun 7, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Appropriations Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.